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"Revenge porn" - where explicit photos of people are posted on the internet by former lovers or spouses to humiliate an ex - has been made illegal in California.

In the first law of its kind, the American state has made it a crime for anyone to take and circulate such photographs without consent with the intention to harass or annoy.

Anyone found guilty could now face six months in jail, or a $1,000 fine.

Law makers decided to take action after increasing numbers of graphic images have been posted online in an act often used to exact revenge after a bitter break up.

The pictures can end up on revenge porn websites which specialise in the images, and some charge a fee for them to be removed.

The only other way a victim can get them taken down is to take action in the civil courts.

Californian state Senator Anthony Cannella, who supported the new law, said: "Until now, there was no tool for law enforcement to protect victims.

"Too many have had their lives upended because of an action of another that they trusted."

Holly Jacobs, who has campaigned for legislation to protect revenge porn victims, said her own experience following a break-up with an ex in 2009 led to her contacting the police and the FBI, but to no avail.

Her former partner was posting explicit photos and videos of her, along with her full name, e-mail address, job title, and details about where she worked.

She eventually had to hire an internet specialist to get the material removed.

She described the new Californian law as an "encouraging first step", but pointed out it did not criminalise the posting of "selfies" that were shared willingly with a partner at the time, but distributed later without consent.